Crematorium Stuifduin forms a serene dune landscape where architecture and nature merge into a place of calm, reflection, and connection
Crematorium Stuifduin Lommel
Crematorium Stuifduin Lommel
For the landscaping around the new crematorium in Lommel, a concept was chosen that references the original identity of the site. Where there was once an open dune landscape, a farmland had developed over time. With the construction of the crematorium, this history was recalled and translated into a contemporary landscape that places silence, reflection, and nature experiences at its core.
The project area around Crematorium Stuifduin was located on a former farmland at the edge of Lommel.
During the site analysis, remnants of an old dune landscape were found at the edges. This discovery became the starting point for the landscape design: not a traditional park or formal garden, but a reconstruction of an archetypal dune landscape inspired by the site’s original condition.
Undulating forms were created using drifting sand, allowing typical vegetation such as heather, common hairgrass, and dune shrubs to redevelop. The vegetation structure is deliberately open and transparent in places, framing views that embrace the building while respecting the landscape horizon. In other areas, patches of native forest were planted to reinforce edges and camouflage the parking area.
The dune structure not only guided the landscape design but also inspired the architectural concept of the building. A special brick was even developed with the color and texture of sand, creating a strong cohesion between the building and its surroundings.
The result is a restrained and layered landscape that exudes calm and reflection. The site invites slow movement, contemplation, and connection with nature. In the context of farewells, the landscape gains an additional layer of meaning: a return to origins in an environment that feels simultaneously raw, serene, and timeless.